B. C. WELLS, EX-MAYOR DIED THIS MORNING

Attack of Pneumonia Proves Fatal to Man Who Had Been Prominent in Public Affairs in This County for Many Years

(From Monday's News)

Barton C. Wells, ex-mayor of Mt. Vernon, and for many years a prominent figure in Mt. Vernon and Jefferson county politics, died at 9:25 this morning at his home, 1110 Jordan Street.

Mr. Wells was 69 years of age last January, having been born in this county on January 25, 1846.

He was the son of Barton and Dorothy Wells, pioneer settlers of Jefferson county who came here from Tennessee in the early days of Illinois, and settled in Elk Prairie Township. The Wells family is now a most numerous one, in this county, and numbers in its ranks many well known men, most of whom are farmers.

During his early days Mr. Wells taught school in various places and all during his life he was a great reader. He was a man with a broad education and was well informed along many different lines of human knowledge.

From 1887 to 1889 he was a teacher in the St. Clair county schools. With the exception of these three years, all of his life as been spent in Jefferson county. Although it has been many years since he was a teacher, he was a man who always took a great interest in the schools, andn was active in every move for the extension of improvement of the public schools in this city.

In 1875 Mr. Wells was married to Miss Nancy Jones, a daughter of Uncle Sam Jones, a well known pioneer of this county. At the time of his marriage he was county surveyor of Jefferson county, a position which he held again but recently.

Two children, Miss Cora Wells of this city and Mrs. O.A. Crosno of Arthur, ILL, survive him.

Mr. Wells served as mayor of Mt. Vernon, 1895-96. He made an excellent record as head of the city government and his administration was marked by the establishment of the Mt. Vernon Fire department, which was placed at that time on its present basis.

From 1908 to 1912 Mr. Wells served as county surveyor.

He has for years been most active in Democratic politics having served repeatedly as a member of the Democratic county committee.

At the time of his death he was the treasurer of the Democratic committee, and the representative of the Third precinct of Mt. Vernon on the committee. He was very active in organizing, conducting and financing the Democratic campaign in this county last fall.

Mr. Wells, during his long career engaged in several different lines of business in mt. Vernon. He was in the implement business at one time, also the undertaking business and later in the livery business. At one tim ehe was superintendent of the Mt. Vernon Coal mine.

He has for many years served as city engineer of Mt. Vernon, a position he held under Democratic and Republican administrations, alike because of his experience and ability. At the time of his death he was holding this position, and had under preparation the plans for a number of contemplated public improvements.

It is probably that he has planned more public improvement work in Mt. Vernon than any other man, and the excellent character of most more public improvement work in Mt. Vernon is due in a large measure to the ability with which Mr. wells fulfilled his duties as city engineer.

Aside form his other public positions Mr. wells also served a term as deputy circuit clerk.

Mr. wells was interested in the establishment of The Mt. Vernon Times, a weekly paper published in this city for a time and of which he was the editor. The paper was conducted here for some time but the plant was finally sold and moved to Dahlgren. At the time of his death Mr. Wells was a stock-holder in The Mt. Vernon News Co.

Mr. Wells was a member of Jefferson Lodge of Knights of Pythias, having been a member of this lodge for about 20 years. He was one of the oldest men in the lodge.

The funeral will be held at the home at 1:30 tomorrow afternoon. The interment will be at Oakwood cemetery. The services at the home and at the grave will be conducted by the Knights of Pythias.

The funeral address will be made by Sen. W. Duffy Piercy.

Source: Mt. Vernon Register-News
Date: March 1915
Transcribed and submitted by: Sandy (Whalen) Bauer